Authoring a virtualized data center

Abstract

Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for authoring a virtual representation of a data center. An identity of a first IT component is determined. First position data indicating a position of the first IT component in the data center is received. The associated identity of the first IT component and the first position data is stored as a first part of the virtual representation of the data center. An identity of the second IT component is determined. Relative position data indicating a position of the second IT component relative to the first position data is received. Second position data indicating a position of the second IT component in the data center is determined. The associated identity of the second IT component and the second position data is stored as a second part of the virtual representation of the data center.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method executed on a mobile computing device for authoring a virtual representation of a data center comprising:
 scanning, by the mobile computing device, a first identification marker associated with a first information technology (IT) component; 
 determining, by the mobile computing device, an identity of the first IT component based on the first identification marker; 
 receiving, by the mobile computing device, first position data indicating a position of the first IT component in the data center; 
 associating, by the mobile computing device, the identity of the first IT component with the first position data; 
 storing, by the mobile computing device, the associated identity of the first IT component and the first position data as a first part of the virtual representation of the data center; 
 scanning, by the mobile computing device, a second identification marker associated with a second IT component; 
 determining, by the mobile computing device, an identity of the second IT component based on the second identification marker; 
 receiving, by the mobile computing device, relative position data indicating a position of the second IT component relative to the first position data; 
 determining, by the mobile computing device, second position data indicating a position of the second IT component in the data center based on the first position data and the relative position data; 
 associating, by the mobile computing device, the identity of the second IT component with the second position data; and 
 storing, by the mobile computing device, the associated identity of the second IT component and the second position data as a second part of the virtual representation of the data center. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, by the mobile computing device, a plurality of directional buttons; and 
 wherein receiving, by the mobile computing device, relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data comprises detecting, by the mobile computing device, selection of a directional button of the plurality of directional buttons. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data indicates at least one of the second IT component is right of the first position data; the second IT component is left of the first position data; the second IT component is in front of the first position data; the second IT component is behind the first position data; the second IT component is below the first position data; the second IT component is above the first position data. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first IT component and the second IT component are racks. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data indicates the position of the second IT component within the first IT component. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first IT component is a rack and the second IT component is one of a server, storage controller, or disk enclosure in the rack. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first IT component is a disk enclosure and the second IT component is a hard drive. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first identification marker and the second identification marker are QR codes. 
     
     
       9. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising instructions being operable to cause a mobile computing device to:
 scan a first identification marker associated with a first information technology (IT) component; 
 determine an identity of the first IT component based on the first identification marker; 
 receive first position data indicating a position of the first IT component in the data center; 
 associate the identity of the first IT component with the first position data; 
 store the associated identity of the first IT component and the first position data as a first part of the virtual representation of the data center; 
 scan a second identification marker associated with a second IT component; 
 determine an identity of the second IT component based on the second identification marker; 
 receive relative position data indicating a position of the second IT component relative to the first position data; 
 determine second position data indicating a position of the second IT component in the data center based on the first position data and the relative position data; 
 associate the identity of the second IT component with the second position data; and 
 store the associated identity of the second IT component and the second position data as a second part of the virtual representation of the data center. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions being operable to cause a mobile computing device to:
 display a plurality of directional buttons; and 
 wherein the instructions being operable to cause the mobile computing device to receive relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data comprise instructions being operable to cause the mobile computing device to detect selection of a directional button of the plurality of directional buttons. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data indicates at least one of the second IT component is right of the first position data; the second IT component is left of the first position data; the second IT component is in front of the first position data; the second IT component is behind the first position data; the second IT component is below the first position data; the second IT component is above the first position data. 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the first IT component and the second IT component are racks. 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data indicates the position of the second IT component within the first IT component. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the first IT component is a rack and the second IT component is one of a server, storage controller, or disk enclosure in the rack. 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the first IT component is a disk enclosure and the second IT component is a hard drive. 
     
     
       16. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the first identification marker and the second identification marker are QR codes. 
     
     
       17. A mobile computing device comprising:
 a scanner; and 
 a data center management module configured to:
 scan, with the scanner, a first identification marker associated with a first information technology (IT) component; 
 determine an identity of the first IT component based on the first identification marker; 
 receive first position data indicating a position of the first IT component in the data center; 
 associate the identity of the first IT component with the first position data; 
 store the associated identity of the first IT component and the first position data as a first part of the virtual representation of the data center; 
 scan, with the scanner, a second identification marker associated with a second IT component; 
 determine an identity of the second IT component based on the second identification marker; 
 receive relative position data indicating a position of the second IT component relative to the first position data; 
 determine second position data indicating a position of the second IT component in the data center based on the first position data and the relative position data; 
 associate the identity of the second IT component with the second position data; and 
 store the associated identity of the second IT component and the second position data as a second part of the virtual representation of the data center. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The mobile computing device of  claim 17 , further comprising a display, wherein the data center management module is configured to:
 display on the display a plurality of directional buttons; and 
 receive relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data by detecting selection of a directional button of the plurality of directional buttons. 
 
     
     
       19. The mobile computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the relative position data indicating the position of the second IT component relative to the first position data indicates at least one of the second IT component is right of the first position data; the second IT component is left of the first position data; the second IT component is in front of the first position data; the second IT component is behind the first position data; the second IT component is below the first position data; the second IT component is above the first position data. 
     
     
       20. The mobile computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the first identification marker and the second identification marker are QR codes.